I mean I expected there to be dozens of footnotes exploring different aspects of each lyric. It was probably an unreasonable expectation to have, I just expected more from an academic. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have several annotated books of literary works and lyrics that have tons of interesting info. And Zimmy deserves the same. For example, in the Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, there are two columns per page. The left hand column is the lyrics with various lines, phrases, and/or subjects marked with subscript numerals that match annotations in the right hand column. Take for example the song "Friend Of The Devil. There are seven notes for this song. Some discuss geographical references. Each place name in the song has a paragraph long note discussing where the place is, possible similarly named places that the lyricist might have intended, facts about that place that might have consciously or not prompted the writer to use that town, etc. The phrase "trailed by twenty hounds" gets a note that says: "Compare Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trial": And the days keep worryin' me/there's a hellhound on my trail." The line "got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee" has a note suggesting "This being set in Utah, perhaps the character is a Mormon practicing polygamy." Each song also has annotations that describe where and when the first studio recording is found, the when and where of the first live performances, and often a brief discussion of a song's history in live performance, such as (referencing "Easy Wind"): "First known performance: September 1, 1969, at the Baton Rouge International Speedway in Prairiesville, Louisiana. It was played steadily through April 1971". I think Dylan's works deserve in depth analysis and that's what I had hope for and didn't get. Once again, my bad, not Ricks'. It's not a horrible book by any means. I'll probably buy a copy of a smaller sized edition when one is published if only to have the more recent lyrics in an easier to handle package.

I mean I expected there to be dozens of footnotes exploring different aspects of each lyric. It was probably an unreasonable expectation to have, I just expected more from an academic. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have several annotated books of literary works and lyrics that have tons of interesting info. And Zimmy deserves the same. For example, in the Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, there are two columns per page. The left hand column is the lyrics with various lines, phrases, and/or subjects marked with subscript numerals that match annotations in the right hand column. Take for example the song "Friend Of The Devil. There are seven notes for this song. Some discuss geographical references. Each place name in the song has a paragraph long note discussing where the place is, possible similarly named places that the lyricist might have intended, facts about that place that might have consciously or not prompted the writer to use that town, etc. The phrase "trailed by twenty hounds" gets a note that says: "Compare Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trial": And the days keep worryin' me/there's a hellhound on my trail." The line "got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee" has a note suggesting "This being set in Utah, perhaps the character is a Mormon practicing polygamy." Each song also has annotations that describe where and when the first studio recording is found, the when and where of the first live performances, and often a brief discussion of a song's history in live performance, such as (referencing "Easy Wind"): "First known performance: September 1, 1969, at the Baton Rouge International Speedway in Prairiesville, Louisiana. It was played steadily through April 1971". I think Dylan's works deserve in depth analysis and that's what I had hope for and didn't get. Once again, my bad, not Ricks'. It's not a horrible book by any means. I'll probably buy a copy of a smaller sized edition when one is published if only to have the more recent lyrics in an easier to handle package.

Thanks for that, Mr. Henry. I have never seen this on the Dead and will definitely check it out.

I agree, THAT truly is what Dylan deserves. My guess that something similar could have been produced in three or four more practically-sized, 500-page volumes that made much better use of so much blank space.

For instance, let's just say that each song merits an average of 3 pages (obviously something like Desolation Row would be longer and Wiggle Wiggle would take up almost nothing).

But the more I peruse this book, the more I consider it to be just another artistic piece of the Dylan canon. It was never meant to be what we thought or hoped it would be. It's just a piece of art, showcasing Dylan's lyrics in the most visually appealing way.

My guess is that the scholarly books such as you mention are being written as we speak. In fact, I would be surprised if there weren't at least 3 or 4 writers researching and compiling just such a tome (I'm looking at you, Scottw).

For now, I will enjoy reading through the lyrics and coming to my own conclusions as I listen to the songs WITHOUT someone else telling me what it all means. When the REAL annotated volume is available, I will buy it and enjoy every new insight, as well as taking issue with faulty readings.

Shakespeare has had the treatment numerous times (though the references are often obscure and less relevant to us moderns, the biggest problem is finding the right one). The Bible, too (stay away if you are a true believer), and the Tao Te Ching (okay, so it's really brief).Closer to our time, I have enjoyed volumes on Thoreau's Walden (Emerson is on my holiday list), Huck Finn, T.S. Eliot (lost without it) Joyce's Ulysses (really lost without it).

So why not Dylan? His lyrics deserve a well-researched, definitive, annotated edition, and somebody on ER just might be qualified to put it together.

So why not Dylan? His lyrics deserve a well-researched, definitive, annotated edition, and somebody on ER just might be qualified to put it together.

I'm waiting.

Yes, thanks Mr Henry.

I agree. The - few and far between - footnotes that are in TLS62 appear to be totally random. Biblical references as well as blues / folk borrowings would probably double the volume of this book, let alone all the love and theft of recent years. A missed opportunity.

Sometimes I wish ER could just pool resources for a kind of Dylan Wiki, but not sure this would work...

You need something to open up a new doorTo show you something you heard beforeBut overlooked a hundred times or moreYou need something to open your mind

And where do you look for this book that yer seekin'Where do you look for this lyric that's a-burnin'Where do you look for this phrase that's a-gushin'Where do you look for these words a-glowin'Where do you look for this page that you know is thereAnd out there somewhere

And though it's only my opinionI may be right or wrongYou may not find it in the lyricsAt sundown

You need something to open up a new doorTo show you something you heard beforeBut overlooked a hundred times or moreYou need something to open your mind

And where do you look for this book that yer seekin'Where do you look for this lyric that's a-burnin'Where do you look for this phrase that's a-gushin'Where do you look for these words a-glowin'Where do you look for this page that you know is thereAnd out there somewhere

And though it's only my opinionI may be right or wrongYou may not find it in the lyricsAt sundown

Ha. Very good.

Maybe it's the colour of my accounts now all in redAnd the remortgage on my house just to cover all that debtOr the selling of my kidneys so I can buy that Basement setBut this crazy book aint on my mind.

You need something to open up a new doorTo show you something you heard beforeBut overlooked a hundred times or moreYou need something to open your mind

And where do you look for this book that yer seekin'Where do you look for this lyric that's a-burnin'Where do you look for this phrase that's a-gushin'Where do you look for these words a-glowin'Where do you look for this page that you know is thereAnd out there somewhere

And though it's only my opinionI may be right or wrongYou may not find it in the lyricsAt sundown

YES!!!

This is clever, and even though it seems to mock people like myself, I can take it -- and enjoy it!

It's nice to have the current version of Workingman's Blues, though there are some additional lyrics that I don't recall him singing ("Sometimes I wish that I'd never been kissed..."). On the next page, a new set of lyrics for Beyond The Horizon that I wasn't aware of either - "I never inquire or ask her age", etc... charming, ain't he?

Joined: Tue August 28th, 2007, 07:16 GMTPosts: 23535Location: any where a music tragic might be found

I think it is a fantastic publications. I am not disappointed in any way. It is easy to nit pick and criticize and in a work of this size about a living performer there are bound to be things that some fans may not like or feel should be there. However I am sure that it is a task that most of us would have had difficultly in achieving. I am pleased to be one of only 250 Australians who have a copy and will treasure it for ever.

I think it is a fantastic publications. I am not disappointed in any way. It is easy to nit pick and criticize and in a work of this size about a living performer there are bound to be things that some fans may not like or feel should be there. However I am sure that it is a task that most of us would have had difficultly in achieving. I am pleased to be one of only 250 Australians who have a copy and will treasure it for ever.

Joined: Tue August 28th, 2007, 07:16 GMTPosts: 23535Location: any where a music tragic might be found

Hungryhoss wrote:

oldmanemu wrote:

I think it is a fantastic publications. I am not disappointed in any way. It is easy to nit pick and criticize and in a work of this size about a living performer there are bound to be things that some fans may not like or feel should be there. However I am sure that it is a task that most of us would have had difficultly in achieving. I am pleased to be one of only 250 Australians who have a copy and will treasure it for ever.

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